Points of Contact

As apologists, it might be easy to think that our job is only to present reasonable arguments to non-believers and let reason lead the non-believer to Christ. In fact, however, it is usually not reason that is holding a non-believer back. Whatever is stopping them is more than an intellectual difficulty but something closer to home.

Apologetics can be more than just sound arguments. Alister McGrath (an apologist worth reading!) says that as apologists, we should find points of contact with the person, group, or audience that we are talking to. These might include their fear of death, the feeling that nothing ultimately satisfies, or the knowledge of our moral guilt. From that point of contact, we can show how Jesus is the answer to their particular problem and then expound on the Gospel. We can also talk about any intellectual problems this person/group/audience may have since we've now gained a hearing with them.

Here is an illustration of finding a point of contact with someone and using it to launch a discussion about God and Christianity. I have a friend who has a blog about fishing. In this blog, she will often write about the beauty of nature. In a recent post, she talked about how a lake can be a great equalizer. It doesn't care who you are, what you are, or what you have or don't have. Whether male or female, rich or poor, anyone of any race is welcomed with open arms by the lake which doesn't judge but only listens. At times, she says, nature can make you very aware of your insignificance as you realize that there is something much bigger than you out there. (I am using this as an illustration only. I am not implying that my friend does not believe in God - in fact she does. Her remarks are not meant to imply otherwise and in the context of her blog, these remarks about nature are perfectly appropriate, but I wanted to use this post because it is a great example of a point of contact.)

Do you see it? The need to be valued no matter who your are; the realization that there has to be something more; the desire for a friend who always welcomes with open arms, who isn't judgmental and who will listen. If these remarks had been made by someone whom you knew wasn't a Christian, you would have a perfect point of contact for talking about God, Jesus, and Christianity.

You could begin by making the person aware that all of the qualities that are celebrated about the lake are pointers to God. Romans 1:20 says, "From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse." You can talk about how God's creation is meant to show us something about Him and lead us to Him. John Calvin once said that the world reflects the attractiveness of its Creator. So it isn't nature that we should be worshipping as the "one" who offers us unconditional acceptance, it is God, who created it. You can also point out that nature and anything in it are not capable of loving, accepting, listening, or being nonjudgmental since these are impersonal, inantimate things. It is the Creator with all of his wonderful and holy attributes, not the creation, that is capable of these things. This is a good starting point that can lead to how God loves and values us all so much that He sent His Son to die on a cross so we no longer have to be alienated from Him

You can see how you can use something that is already relevant in the life of a non-believer to begin a discussion about God and Christianity. So start by listening to your non-Christian friends and acquaintances. If you're a speaker, do a little homework to find out about your audience and what issues are important to them. Then speak to how Jesus is the answer!

Conversation With a Moral Relativist

Moral Absolutist: Man, it's been a busy week! It's so nice to sit and relax. I'm glad we could hang out this afternoon.

Moral Relativist: Me too. And I love this coffee shop. Let's get those chairs over in the corner by the window.

Absolutist: (sits) So what did you do this weekend?

Relativist: Oh, normal stuff - visited the parents, caught a movie...Oh, and I went to this lecture at school with my roommate. He had to go and talked me into tagging along. You wouldn't have believed this guy!

Absolutist: Why? What was the lecture about?

Relativist: Well...look, I know you're a Christian, so no offense, but this guy was way overboard. His whole lecture was about how morals are absolute and objective and since they're absolute people don't get to decide for themselves how they should live...He really had me irritated!

Absolutist: Why?

Relativist: Because he shouldn't be up there spewing his views and telling everyone else they're wrong if they don't agree with his morals! What makes him think he's got it all figured out? Who is he to judge the choices and morals of anyone else?

Absolutist: What do you mean by "judge"?

Relativist: Just what he was doing! Telling someone else they're wrong just because they don't agree with you - because it isn't the choice you would have made.

Absolutist: But aren't you saying he is wrong?

Relativist: He is! He can't tell other people what their morals should be. *
Absolutist: But think about it a minute. He believes in absolute morals. You believe in moral relativism - everyone chooses what's right for them - so why not let him choose the moral system that he thinks is right? Instead, you appear to be judging him.

Relativist: But believing that there are moral absolutes is intolerant of other people's morals that don't agree with those absolutes. *

Absolutist: But under the umbrella of moral relativism, it's still his right to choose what's right for him, and you can't hold to moral relativism on the one hand and "judge" him for being wrong on the other. You get that, don't you? But you also said moral absolutism is intolerant. What do you mean by "intolerant"?

Relativist: I mean he's intolerant because he doesn't accept other people's view points and moral choices. I mean he should be more tolerant of other people.

Absolutist: But tolerance implies that I do not accept the thing I am tolerating. After all, I don't have to tolerate a good cup of coffee if I enjoy coffee; I don't have to tolerate you since you're my friend and I like hanging out with you; I don't have to tolerate views which I accept. I only have to tolerate something that I do not agree with or accept. The historical definition of "tolerance" is putting up with error, not acceptance of all views. But let's say tolerance did mean acceptance of all views...aren't you being intolerant of the lecturer's views?

Relativist: (laughs) I think it may be too early for this conversation!

Absolutist: Just pointing out the inconsistencies, my friend. Think about it this way: That's your $15 laying there isn't it? Change from your coffee?

Relativist: Yeah.

Absolutist: That guy outside has been playing the guitar for spare change ever since we got here - probably all morning. I'm just going to give your $15 to him. He really looks like he could use the help.

Relativst: (grabs at the money) That's nice of you, (laughs) but I'm a poor college student myself!

Absolutist: Yeah, still seems like the right thing to do for me, and since I don't have any more cash on me myself, I'll use yours. (Gets up with the money)

Relativst: You can't just take my money!

Absolutist: But I'm deciding what's right for me. Surely you can appreciate that! Please don't judge my choices.

Relativst: But...! Just hold on!

to be continued...

* Remember ~ when talking with a skeptic/unbeliever, they may make many statements or assertions. Assertions are statements given as if no evidence is needed. They are not arguments and as such, you do not need to refute them. The skeptic/unbeliever has to account for and give evidence for his assertions, so draw him/her out by asking him to explain or clarify his/her position; or ask why s/he believes that or where s/he heard it. Anything to see if they have thought through what they are stating and to give you something to refute is what you're looking for.

"Those Reds are Afraid They Might Have to Pay for Some Healthcare!"

There isn't hardly a day that goes by lately when you don't hear or read something in the news about the healthcare overhaul. And if you're listening at all, you can hear many opinions from the people you encounter daily. So I wasn't surprised when I took my son to get his haircut and heard one of the stylists comment on healthcare. But this particular comment was aimed at Christians, and it got me thinking.

This is what he said:
"Boy, those Reds are getting fired up, they're afraid they might have to pay for some healthcare!" (It took me a second to realize "reds" meant republicans.) He continued. "You know what's ironic is that these same people who are so pro-life, pro-God, pro-Christian, pro-everything are the same people who don't want healthcare reform! They talk a good talk, but when it comes down to it, they don't put the pudding where their mouth is."

Now, nevermind that he made sweeping generalizations about republicans and Christians and how we feel about healthcare. What he said made me wonder how many others feel the same way about Christians? And if people have this opinion, what blame do we Christians have in that? Are we doing our job?

In Deut. 15:11, God commands His people, "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'" In the New Testament churces, there are systems put in place by the churches to care for the widows and the poor. In Acts, for instance, there was concern that some of the widows were being overlooked when food was distributed, so seven wise men of integrity were chosen to oversee the distributing of food to make sure everyone in need was fed.

There is no question that as Christians, Jesus calls us to care for the oppressed and the needy in very practical ways. "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?" (James 2:14-16) While these verses do not directly mention healthcare, I think it is safe to assume that caring about those who can't afford healthcare for themselves or their families is something Jesus would expect from us.

It occurs to me that if we were doing this and doing it well, it wouldn't even cross the minds of unbelievers that Christians were against healthcare reform. They would know we did everything we could to get healthcare to those who needed it! Again, I realize that the man I heard speaking his mind lumped all Republicans and Christians together (whether or not all Republicans are Christian or all Christians are Republican) and also lumped all Christians together - nominal Christians right along with Christians who are concerned about the poor and who are doing things to help. But even so, if we as Christians were doing our job well - all of us, not just some - there may not even be a need for healthcare reform. And if there was a need for it, no one would be able to say that Christians were against it.

All that being said, what the above quoted hairdresser needs to know is that there are many Christians who may be against the current healthcare reform package that is being offered. But being against a particular answer because one is not sure it is the best solution to a very real problem does not mean that the same person is against getting healthcare to those who need it in another way. He was offering a false dichotomy in which the only two choices available were 1)be for Obama's healthcare reform, or 2) be against any healthcare reform at all and show you don't really care about people.

These are not the only two choices. In my community, there are free health clinics being opened and offered to those who don't have access to healthcare. These are being opened by churches and Christian missions and being manned by Christians, many who are volunteering their time. My church is putting together a healthcare team as one part of a missions team that will go where they are needed to offer healthcare. The people who are doing these things may or may not be for the healthcare reform that is on the table, but however they feel about that, they are finding other answers to help deal with the problem as well.

As Christians, we are obligated to be involved in some way with caring for the poor and their needs. That will look different for everyone and there are lots of ways we can get involved, but (as the hairdresser put it) we need to put our pudding where our mouth is. Volunteer in free clinics; support a child financially allowing them to get food, medication, and education where they live (Compassion is a great place to start if you're interested in this. http://www.compassion.com/ ); maybe adoption or foster parenting is something you'd be great at; get involved with the reform process at whatever level you can. There are so many ways to get involved. Your church may have other ideas and even some ways to help already in place. We are called to love everyone and to know that all have equal value and worth in God's eyes. We are called to share that view and to respond to what God has done for us through Jesus by being His light and His love to the rest of the world, and His hands and feet to the needy. We can do better...